Mountain getaways: White Mountains

by Ron Dungan - Jun. 29, 2010 01:10 PMThe Arizona Republic

Hidden Meadow Ranch

Hidden Meadow Ranch, near Greer, has 12 luxury guest cabins. These cabins have a wood-burning stone fireplace, mini refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, complimentary drinks and bottled waters, a loft and a covered porch overlooking a meadow. The ranch has riding horses and fly-fishing ponds and offers two kinds of packages, one for those who want an activity-filled stay, one for those who just want to melt into the front porch. It serves three meals a day and is flexible on where you take them, offering trail lunches for your backpack or saddlebag and a candlelit dinner overlooking the meadow. Rates are $375 to $595 per night. Some cabins are pet-friendly.

Myrick's Cabins

Myrick's Cabins offer four log cabins in the pines near Greer: the Beartooth, Shoshone, Teton and Lamar. The kitchens are supplied with a coffeemaker, microwave, dishwasher, stove, toaster, blender and cooking utensils. The cabins also have gas barbecues, outdoor fire pits and gas fireplaces. National-forest trailheads and the Greer lakes are nearby. Rates are $160 to $210 a night. Two-night minimum.

Mountain View Lodge

Mountain View Lodge is a four-bedroom cabin in Greer that sleeps eight. This secluded, two-story lodge in the pines has a large rock fireplace in a lounge area with French windows that open to a large deck. The master suite has a Jacuzzi bathtub, and there is lots of closet space. A gas grill is on the deck. The cabin is one of many in the Greer area available through the website below. Rates start at $275 a night. No pets and no smoking.

Traveling to White Mountains:

How to get there: From central Phoenix, take Interstate 10 east to Loop 202 east, then drive north on Arizona 87 (Beeline Highway) to Payson. It's about 85 miles. Go east on Arizona 260 to Show Low (about 90 miles). Continue on 260 east through Pinetop-Lakeside and McNary to Arizona 273 and drive south to Sunrise Park Resort, on the Fort Apache Reservation (about 40 miles); continue on 260 east to Arizona 373 and go south to Greer (about 50 miles); or continue east on 260 to Eagar and Springerville (about 55 miles).

Eat here: Java Blues in Springerville. This casual, eclectic restaurant specializes in coffee, the menu leans toward sandwiches and salads, and sometimes there's live music at night. Try the spinach salad with mandarin oranges, toasted almonds and homemade honey-caraway dressing, $6.95, and the Heartbreaker sandwich, with thinly sliced roast beef, caramelized onions and melted Brie, $6.95. On nice days, grab a table at the streetside patio. 341 E. Main St. 928-333-5282.

Don't miss: The scenic chairlift ride at Sunrise Park Resort. Glide up Sunrise Peak to enjoy the view from above 10,000 feet, then ride back down - or hike, if you're feeling energetic. Mountain bikers can load their bikes onto the lift and spend the day on the mountain, riding to their heart's content. $10, $5 for age 65 and older and 12 and younger, $20 all-day mountain-bike pass. 928-735-7669, sunriseskipark.com.